posted March 13, 2008 at 18:57 EST in NCAA B Free Picks

BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: MARQUETTE -1, Total 147

The Marquette Golden Eagles (23-8 SU, 14-11 ATS) are now in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, where they will have the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (24-6 SU, 13-14 ATS) waiting for them. The game begins at 9 PM ET on Thursday night and will be played at Madison Square Garden.

In the BetUS NCAAB betting odds, Marquette is listed as a one-point favorite, with a total of 147 points.

Here are some of the NCAA basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* MARQ has won seven of its last nine games SU

* MARQ has covered six of its last eight games

* MARQ has played three of its last four games OVER the total

* ND has won six of its last seven games SU

* ND has covered five of its last six games

* ND has played 13 of its last 16 games OVER the total

* MARQ has won and covered four of the last six meetings

* Four of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total

* MARQ has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings

* ND has had the rebounding edge in each of the last three meetings

* MARQ has made more three-pointers in each of the last three meetings

These teams split their two meetings this season, with Marquette humiliating the Irish at the Bradley Center on January 12 by a 92-66 score, and Notre Dame getting some measure of revenge with an 86-83 triumph at the Joyce Center in South Bend on February 9.

The Irish had things somewhat soft coming down the stretch, scoring wins over Big East non-qualifiers DePaul, Seton Hall and South Florida to close out its season, and gained a bye into this round of action, while Marquette had to get by Seton Hall last night. the Eagles did not shoot well at all, though (34%), which is going to be a concern against an ND team that can get the easy baskets from Luke Harangody (21 ppg, 52% FG's), the league MVP, and three-pointers from Ryan Ayers (46%) and Kyle McAlarney (45%).

There is talent and depth in the Irish backcourt, perhaps a little deeper than Marquette in that area, which is important when one of the teams has to play on back-to-back nights. And Marquette can't really match the element of inside scoring that Notre Dame possesses in the person of Harangody.

We're going to go with rested Notre Dame, especially since we don't have to lay a price. Take a point with the Irish, the underdog in the BetUS NCAA betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NOTRE DAME

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)